Set Screw Patents (Class 251/112)
  • Patent number: 9914190
    Abstract: A blast gate for a vacuum system includes a chassis connectable to a duct and defining a flow passage therethrough, and a gate connected to the chassis and rotatable about a central axis. The gate includes a first portion, an intermediate portion and a second portion spaced apart circumferentially about the central axis. The first portion defines a flow aperture, the intermediate portion defines an auxiliary flow aperture, and the second portion includes a partition. Each of the first portion, second portion and third portion is selectively rotatable into fluid alignment with the flow passage. The blast gate further includes a motor connected to the gate and selectively operable to rotate the gate about the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventor: Robert G. Hartness
  • Patent number: 9702480
    Abstract: A switchbox for monitoring the position of a manual quarter-turn valve has a housing mountable to the valve to be monitored/controlled. A handle-driven shaft extends through the housing, with one end of the shaft couplable to the valve stem such that movement of the shaft moves the valve stem. One or more shaft position sensor switches interact with a cam on the shaft to signal shaft position and/or provide control signals. A plate coupled to the shaft articulates within a recess on the surface of the switchbox to limit motion of the valve to an operable range, such as between full ON and full OFF. The switchbox has a pair of lock tabs with lock apertures. A lock aperture in the plate is alignable with the lock tab apertures to receive a pin or padlock for locking the valve in a selected position. A potentiometer can be utilized in place of a switch as a shaft position sensor. The switchbox may be used with an original or new handle and may feature detents to allow a range of valve settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Lee Hoots, Jon Terence Stone
  • Patent number: 9416894
    Abstract: A system for verifiably locking a first cylindrical component to a second cylindrical component in a safe and secure manner. The system provides a visible indication when the first component and second component are fully and effectively secured. The first cylindrical component comprises a lock cylinder fixedly attached to the first cylindrical component. The lock cylinder comprises a lock piston. The second cylindrical component comprises a channel with a guide region and a lock region. The visible portion of the lock piston provides an indication of whether or not the lock piston is secured in the lock region of the channel. The system is also capable of being operated from a control panel to operate the locks, receive signals from sensors, and to display the lock status of the system. The system offers redundant verifications to enhance safety in operating environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Inventor: Leo William Abel
  • Patent number: 9328845
    Abstract: Valve stem locks include a plug element and a sliding latch disposed in a hole of the plug element. The latch includes a hole and is biased toward the locked position. A key inserted in a hole in the plug element moves the latch from the locked position until the hole of the latch is in alignment with the key. The key is then inserted into the hole of the latch until a notch on the key engages a lower portion of the latch. As a result, the latch is prevented from returning to its locked position. To allow the latch to return to its locked position, the key is removed by rotating the key to disengage the notch from the lower portion of the latch and sliding the key from the hole in the latch. Removal of the key frees the latch to return to its locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Packard International, Inc.
    Inventor: James O. H. Niermann, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9163733
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid valve comprising: a body (50) defining a fluid flow duct (60), and a flap (1) that can move between a closed position preventing the fluid from flowing through the duct and an open position allowing the fluid to flow through the duct. According to the invention, the valve also comprises a joint (2) having at least one opening for the passage of the fluid, and the aforementioned flap can close the opening(s) (5) in the joint when in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes de Controle Moteur
    Inventors: Sébastien Adenot, Grégory Hodebourg
  • Publication number: 20140361205
    Abstract: A setting screw connection for a mechanically or electromagnetically actuable hydraulic valve has a setting region, a setting screw with an external thread, and a setting nut with an internal thread for mutual engagement. At least one of the internal thread and external thread has a cross section which differs from a circular shape. Further, at least one of the internal thread and external thread is configured to be predominantly elastically deformed via the engagement with the respectively other thread such that at least one of the setting screw is secured against rotation at least in the setting region, and an axial play of the setting screw is prevented at least in the setting region. A hydraulic valve includes the setting screw connection, and has a valve piston which is positioned axially displaceably and is coupled axially to the setting screw connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Lorenz Lippert
  • Patent number: 8490947
    Abstract: A presettable gas valve is disclosed herein. The gas valve may have a maximum gas flow that can be adjusted to the particular requirements of the fireplace in which the gas valve is used. By way of example and not limitation, for real biomass/fuel burning fireplaces, the gas valve may be opened to its maximum level with a quarter turn of a handle. In contrast, for fake fireplaces, which require more gas flow compared to real fireplaces, the gas valve may be opened to its maximum level with a half turn of the handle. The maximum gas flow through the gas valve may be set during installation such that the user does not need to manually determine the appropriate amount of gas during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Joe Leighton & Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Harsharan Grewal
  • Patent number: 8282073
    Abstract: A presettable gas valve is disclosed herein. The gas valve may have a maximum gas flow that can be adjusted to the particular requirements of the fireplace in which the gas valve is used. By way of example and not limitation, for real biomass/fuel burning fireplaces, the gas valve may be opened to its maximum level with a quarter turn of a handle. In contrast, for fake fireplaces, which require more gas flow compared to real fireplaces, the gas valve may be opened to its maximum level with a half turn of the handle. The maximum gas flow through the gas valve may be set during installation such that the user does not need to manually determine the appropriate amount of gas during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Joe Leighton & Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Harsharan Grewal
  • Publication number: 20110175002
    Abstract: A presettable gas valve is disclosed herein. The gas valve may have a maximum gas flow that can be adjusted to the particular requirements of the fireplace in which the gas valve is used. By way of example and not limitation, for real biomass/fuel burning fireplaces, the gas valve may be opened to its maximum level with a quarter turn of a handle. In contrast, for fake fireplaces, which require more gas flow compared to real fireplaces, the gas valve may be opened to its maximum level with a half turn of the handle. The maximum gas flow through the gas valve may be set during installation such that the user does not need to manually determine the appropriate amount of gas during use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventor: Harsharan Grewal
  • Patent number: 7811067
    Abstract: An air driven diaphragm pump includes an performance control actuator having a housing with opposed air chambers. The pump includes pump chambers facing the air chambers and pump diaphragms extending between each air chamber and each pump chamber, respectively. The actuator further includes an air valve, an intake to the air valve and an engagement. The intake includes an intake passage and a performance control intake adjuster rotatably mounted. The intake adjuster has a helical channel and a closure element extending adjustably into the intake passage. The engagement engages the helical channel for control of the intake. The helical channel has varied pitch to provide a nonlinear relationship between rotation and axial advancement of the intake adjuster. The nonlinear relationship gives flow rate proportional to the angular rotation of the intake adjuster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Wilden Pump and Engineering LLC
    Inventors: Curtis W. Dietzsch, Greg S. Duncan, Gary K. Lent
  • Patent number: 7513395
    Abstract: A valve includes a body; a liquid flow passage defined in the body and including a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet; a vent passage defined in the body and including an air inlet and an air outlet; a valve seat defined in the liquid flow passage; a liquid seal located adjacent the valve seat; a stem connected to the liquid seal and extending in the liquid flow passage away from the liquid seal through an aperture defined in the body. The stem includes a distal end located external to the body. The stem is movable to and from a first position where the liquid seal is mated with the valve seat and a second position where the liquid seal is unseated from the valve seat. An actuator is connected to the distal end of the stem. The actuator is selectively movable to move the stem from the first position to the second position. A check-valve is adapted to block flow of liquid from the air outlet to the air inlet in the vent passage, and to allow flow of air from the air inlet to the air outlet in said vent passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: The Meyer Company
    Inventors: Jeffery J. Labinski, Michael H. Meyer
  • Patent number: 7144207
    Abstract: In a valve disposed between a fluid supply and a socket of a chuck and configured to regulate the flow of the fluid to the socket. There is a seal screw for modulating a preload tension. This seal screw has a first sealing surface. The valve further includes a second sealing surface in opposing relation to the first sealing surface and an elastomer seal ring disposed between the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface. The valve is configured to form a seal between the first sealing surface, the second sealing surface, and the elastomer seal in response to a force less than or equal to the preload tension being exerted in line with the seal screw. In this manner, the valve is configured to allow the flow of the fluid between the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface in response to a force exceeding the preload tension being exerted in line with the seal screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Matthew J. Weigel
  • Patent number: 6997209
    Abstract: A locking device of an air-operated normally-closed valve for a gas cylinder includes a housing; a piston assembly provided in the housing; a tapered axial member having an annular outer tapered surface and positioned coaxially with the piston assembly axis; a lock nut which is screw-engaged with the housing and coaxial with the tapered axial member; an annular inner tapered surface formed on an inner peripheral surface of the lock nut to correspond to the annular outer tapered surface; an intermediate cylinder member positioned between the annular outer and inner tapered surfaces; and a lock piece inserted into a radial through hole and contacting the annular outer and inner tapered surfaces. The lock nut can press the lock piece against the annular outer tapered surface via the annular inner tapered surface to lock the piston assembly by adjusting the lock nut with respect to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Fujikura Rubber Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Ejiri
  • Patent number: 6742763
    Abstract: A linear spring-loaded actuator (10) for a valve (12) comprises a housing (14) and an actuating spindle (16) slidably supported in the housing (14). A cap (22) is associated with the housing (14). Spring means (36), arranged in the housing (14), bear on the cap (22) and the actuating spindle (16), so as to exert a spring force on the actuating spindle (16). A thread (26) on the housing (14) cooperates with a thread (24′, 24″) on the cap (22) for screwing the cap (22) on the housing (14) so as to preload the spring means (36) in the housing (14). At least one lock means (40) is associated with one of the threads (24′, 24″) and is capable of deforming this thread (24, 24″) so as to lock it in any position on the cooperating thread (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Luxembourg Patent Company S.A.
    Inventor: Paul Kremer
  • Patent number: 6568422
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved lock mechanism and method for high security locking of a valve in a desired position. A moveable locking member is operably mounted within a housing for moving between a locking position and an operating position. The housing preferably defines a lock hole into which a pad lock or the like can be inserted into the lock hole to secure the locking member in the locking position. A retainer member is preferably provided to prevent the locking member from being easily removed from the housing. The retainer member is preferably mounted such that an external lock cannot be inserted when the valve is not locked into the desired position. In a preferred embodiment, the locking member is incorporated into the end stop mechanism for the actuator, which is preferably adjustable and preferably is a dual end stop mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Inventor: Leopold J. Niessen
  • Patent number: 5797285
    Abstract: A locking device for a valve having a rotatable shaft including a stop plate, and a stop secured to a housing, including a hollow body having a first chamber for receiving the shaft, a threaded aperture extending into the first chamber for receiving a screw, a second chamber surrounding the screw, a lockable closure preventing access to the screw, and a tab coupled to the hollow body adapted to be received between the stop plate and the stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Inventor: Ronald Allan Sackowitz
  • Patent number: 5381824
    Abstract: A gas regulator has a pressure control diaphragm biased by a spring. The force of the spring upon the diaphragm, and thus the operating pressure for the regulator, is controlled by a linear travel bushing bearing against the spring. The bushing is preferably threaded upon a shaft, the rotation of which allows travel of the bushing. The top end of the shaft is recessed within a bore in the regulator housing to deter tampering. The shaft may be locked in position by use of a recessed setscrew, while the access bore may be provided with a cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Standard Keil Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Yushan Wang, Wilson Orozco
  • Patent number: 5190263
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for an actuator prevents the unauthorized operation of the actuator and also permits a viewer to determine whether the actuator is in a locked open, locked closed or unlocked position. The invention utilizes a clear cover guard which is positioned and locked on an actuator body which is attached to a housing. The actuator body comprises threaded bores which permit a bolt to be inserted into the actuator body until it contacts an integral locking cam and driver arm rotatably disposed within the actuator body. The bolt contacts the locking cam in order to selectively lock the integral locking cam and driver arm in a desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Neles-Jamesbury, Inc.
    Inventor: William F. Roberts
  • Patent number: 4648742
    Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of the invention are directed to a technique for raising and lowering large tainter gates. Typically, two groups of lifting apertures are formed in the gate. A lifting mechanism, resiliently mounted on the tainter gate pier, inserts a movable pin into an aperture in one of the two groups and draws the gate upwardly. A stationary pin on the lifting mechanism then is inserted into an aperture in the other of the two groups to absorb the gate load while the movable pin is withdrawn and moved to a new aperture in order to continue the step-wise lifting process.To lower a gate, an essentially reverse procedure is followed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Inventor: Dennis C. Strecker
  • Patent number: 4625626
    Abstract: The control/fire damper (10) comprises a tubular shell (11) constituting a flow duct (12), a shaft (13) disposed within the flow duct (12) and carried by the shell (11), and a closing plate (14) mounted on the shaft (13), and which in the case of fire damper use continuously tends to close under the action of a spring (17). The control/fire damper (10) is provided with a clamping counterpart (15) attached to the closing plate (14) and with a clamping device (16) passing through the shell (11), which fixes the counterpart (15) steplessly in the position which is desired in each instance. The clamping device (16) consists of a clamping screw and, in fire damper use, of a member attached by fuse material to the end of the clamping screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Assignee: Halton Oy
    Inventors: Arvo Aalto, Erkki Aalto, Juhani Hasa, Markku Penttila, Harri Saukkonen, Arvi Tolmunen
  • Patent number: 4483509
    Abstract: A valve assembly for controlling the flow of fluid has a housing defining a valving chamber accommodating a transversely movable valve plate. A manually operated lever connected to the valve plate with a rod is operable to move the valve plate between open and closed positions. A resilient member mounted on the housing within the chamber surrounds the fluid outlet opening in the chamber. Rails secured to the housing cooperate with the valving member to hold the valving member in sealing engagement with the resilient member when the valving plate is in the closed position. The valving plate may be connected with a remotely located actuator lever mounted on a tubular member secured to the valve housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1984
    Inventors: Ronald B. Lewcock, James D. Lyons
  • Patent number: 4372342
    Abstract: A damper for adjusting and balancing the air flow rates in air conditioning and similar large gas flow systems is disclosed which comprises at least one pivotable blade located in a frame which is capable of being fitted onto or into one of the ducts in said system so that said blade pivots between fully open and closed positions. Associated with the blade is an adjustment device adapted to permit the blade to be easily rotated and locked in an intermediate position whereby said balance is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1983
    Inventor: Francis J. McCabe